Socio-economic and Demographic Determinants of Children’s Primary School Enrolment in Ethiopia

Abstract

This study examines determinants of children’s primary school enrolment. Using the 2005 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data, a Binary Logistic Regression model was fitted to identify the correlates. The findings indicate that the increase in the number of siblings decreases the likelihood of children’s enrolment in early ages but increases at later ages. Poverty, loss of mother, and rural residence reduce the likelihood of enrolment whilst those living in female-headed households and born to educated parents have higher chances. The findings generally entail the importance of improving households’ socioeconomic wellbeing to widen the opportunity of children’s school enrolment.

Keywords: School enrolment, primary education, parental survivorship, sibling competitions, Ethiopia